Ridiculous Definition & Meaning

American

British

Idioms

Related Words

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms ridiculous American [ri-dik-yuh-luhs] / rɪˈdɪk yə ləs /

adjective

1. causing or worthy of ridicule or derision; absurd; preposterous; laughable.

   a ridiculous plan.

   Synonyms: farcical, comical, droll, funny, ludicrous, nonsensical Antonyms: sensible

2. Slang. absurdly or unbelievably good, bad, crazy, etc..

   The concert was ridiculous, their best performance ever!

ridiculous British / rɪˈdɪkjʊləs /

adjective

1. worthy of or exciting ridicule; absurd, preposterous, laughable, or contemptible

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 ridiculous Idioms

1. see from the ridiculous to the sublime.

Related Words

See absurd.

Other Word Forms

• hyperridiculous adjective
• hyperridiculously adverb
• quasi-ridiculous adjective
• quasi-ridiculously adverb
• ridiculosity noun
• ridiculously adverb
• ridiculousness noun
• unridiculous adjective
• unridiculously adverb

Etymology

Origin of ridiculous

First recorded in 1540–50; from Late Latin rīdiculōsus “laughable, droll,” equivalent to Latin rīdicul(us), adjective derivative of rīdiculum ridicule ( def. ) + -ōsus -ous ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I have a ridiculous urge to call Jonah.

From Literature

"I just think he's ridiculous, and I suspect that will come back to haunt him."

From BBC

It’s fun to play with different aspects of that as an actor to make a left turn into something that’s a little more tragic maybe after something that’s been just ridiculous.

From Los Angeles Times

Who did he poll to get that ridiculous response?

From Los Angeles Times

He added: "We're already spending £150m a year trying to keep the thing standing. So it doesn't seem to me to be a completely ridiculous figure."

From BBC

Related Words

• absurd
• bizarre
• fantastic
• foolish
• goofy
• impossible
• incredible
• laughable
• ludicrous
• nonsensical
• outrageous
• preposterous
• silly
• unbelievable
• wacky

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.